Sam Neill reports to prison

Published: Wednesday, June 19, 2013 at 11:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, June 19, 2013 at 11:01 a.m.

Disbarred Hendersonville attorney Sam Neill is now serving his federal prison sentence for tax fraud, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Facts

Restitution

The court has ordered former lawyer Sam Neill to pay restitution in the following amounts:--$884,517.71 to the Barry Clemo Charitable Remainder Trust--$925,000 to the estate of Ruth Danis--$442,000 to the estate of Irene Meinke--$263,057.09 to the Edna A. Davis Revocable Living Trust

Neill was processed into the federal correctional institution in Jesup, Ga., on June 10, said Chris Burke, public information officer for the bureau.

A U.S. District Court judge sentenced Neill in April to three years in prison for federal tax fraud. After the federal case was resolved, Neill also was sentenced to six to eight years in state prison for embezzling close to $2.5 million from his clients.

Neill, 63, will serve three years of his sentence in federal prisons and three to five years in state prisons before he will be eligible for release.

Jesup is in southern Georgia, and the prison is a medium security facility housing male offenders. It has two adjacent satellite facilities, including a low security facility and a minimum security prison camp, both housing male inmates.

Neill pleaded guilty to one count of federal tax fraud in a plea deal in April 2012.

In September, he pleaded guilty in Henderson County Superior Court to five state counts of felony embezzling nearly $2.5 million from his clients, including about $884,000 from a trust created to help care for the needy. He confessed to taking the money between 2000 and 2010, and the judge ordered Neill to pay restitution.

Neill’s lawyer at the time said his client was working to repay the funds.

“Mr. Neill had taken steps to try to secure repayment to the trust, but as of today (Wednesday), no funds have been received,” said Attorney Edward Harrelson, who represents the Edna A. Davis Revocable Living Trust.

Neill took $247,682 from the Davis living trust between Feb. 24, 2010, and Nov. 15, 2010.

Neill also confessed to embezzling $884,517.71 from the Barry Clemo Charitable Remainder Trust, funds that were intended for the Community Foundation of Henderson County and Four Seasons hospice; $850,000 from the estate of Ruth Danis; $442,000 from the estate of Irene Meinke; and $55,000 from the Harold R. Tallmadge Trust.

The money taken from the Tallmadge Trust was to be repaid through a bonding company.

<p>Disbarred Hendersonville attorney Sam Neill is now serving his federal prison sentence for tax fraud, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.</p><p>Neill was processed into the federal correctional institution in Jesup, Ga., on June 10, said Chris Burke, public information officer for the bureau. </p><p>A U.S. District Court judge sentenced Neill in April to three years in prison for federal tax fraud. After the federal case was resolved, Neill also was sentenced to six to eight years in state prison for embezzling close to $2.5 million from his clients. </p><p>Neill, 63, will serve three years of his sentence in federal prisons and three to five years in state prisons before he will be eligible for release.</p><p>Jesup is in southern Georgia, and the prison is a medium security facility housing male offenders. It has two adjacent satellite facilities, including a low security facility and a minimum security prison camp, both housing male inmates.</p><p>Neill pleaded guilty to one count of federal tax fraud in a plea deal in April 2012.</p><p>In September, he pleaded guilty in Henderson County Superior Court to five state counts of felony embezzling nearly $2.5 million from his clients, including about $884,000 from a trust created to help care for the needy. He confessed to taking the money between 2000 and 2010, and the judge ordered Neill to pay restitution.</p><p>Neill's lawyer at the time said his client was working to repay the funds.</p><p>“Mr. Neill had taken steps to try to secure repayment to the trust, but as of today (Wednesday), no funds have been received,” said Attorney Edward Harrelson, who represents the Edna A. Davis Revocable Living Trust.</p><p>Neill took $247,682 from the Davis living trust between Feb. 24, 2010, and Nov. 15, 2010.</p><p>Neill also confessed to embezzling $884,517.71 from the Barry Clemo Charitable Remainder Trust, funds that were intended for the Community Foundation of Henderson County and Four Seasons hospice; $850,000 from the estate of Ruth Danis; $442,000 from the estate of Irene Meinke; and $55,000 from the Harold R. Tallmadge Trust. </p><p>The money taken from the Tallmadge Trust was to be repaid through a bonding company.</p><p>Reach Schulman at 828-694-7890 or mark.schulman@blueridgenow.com.</p>